NBA

Booker scores 46 to lift Suns past 76ers 115-101

By ABS-CBN Sports on Dec 05, 2017 10:42 AM

FILE - MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - JANUARY 14: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball against the San Antonio Spurs as part of NBA Global Games at Arena Ciudad de Mexico on January 14, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

Booker made 17-of-32 shots and hit four three-pointers, including three in the fourth quarter that helped the Suns put away a Sixers team that played one of their worst games of the season. Booker scored 32 points on 11-of-17 shooting in the second half.

Redick rallied the Sixers from 17 down and hit consecutive triples in the fourth that sliced the deficit to five.

Tyler Ulis pushed back the Sixers with a three and Booker buried two on the next two possessions that squashed the 76ers’ comeback for good. Booker let out a big yell after a fastbreak dunk that made it 110-94 and sent The Process fans toward the exits. Booker added one more three for good measure and tossed up his hands with a shrug as he hustled back on defense.

Simmons had the flu and covered his head with his hoodie as he trudged off the court from pregame warmups to the locker room.

“I feel like my body kind of hit a wall,” Simmons said. “I woke up and I didn’t feel like I could play.”

Simmons, who averaged 23.1 points and 9.4 rebounds, was sick for most of the last three days and didn’t leave his place at all on Sunday (Monday, PHL time).

Simmons made his first four shots and played 17 minutes in the first half. Fittingly, his first half highlight was an impressive dunk: Simmons reached high and snared a low lob pass from Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot that skimmed Dragan Bender’s outstretched finger and completed the alley-oop. Simmons scored on an up-and-under layup that brought the crowd to its feet.

It just wasn’t enough to bring the Sixers a victory.

Embiid tried to make it a game in the third. He routinely punished Alex Len defensively; Embiid used his right hand to smack a shot into the backboard in the third. The Sixers recovered the ball, Embiid scored and it was 82-75. The Sixers trailed by 10 through three.

Suns: The Suns expect to travel 4,987 miles during the six-game road trip.

76ers: G T.J. McConnell could return this week against the Lakers. McConnell, averaging 7.1 points and 5.4 assists, missed his third straight game with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder. He shot before the game for the first time since he was hurt.